Auckland and Lincoln Crowned 3x3 Champions and Secure FISU Qualification Pathway

The 2026 National Tertiary 3x3 Championships delivered two days of high-energy basketball action in Auckland, with the University of Auckland women and Lincoln University men claiming national titles.

Held at Hiwa Recreation Centre at the University of Auckland on 16–17 May, the championship brought together 64 student-athletes from across Aotearoa, with all eight universities represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions. The event marked the third championship in the 2026 National Tertiary Championship Series and continued the momentum of an increasingly competitive year.

The women’s championship saw Auckland secure the title following a tightly contested final against the defending champions, University of Waikato. In a defensive battle that went the full ten minutes, Auckland held on for a 12–9 victory to claim gold on home court for their first title since the event’s inaugural year in 2016. The University of Otago completed the women’s podium in third place, while the University of Canterbury finished fourth.

The men’s final followed a similar script, with Lincoln University defeating Otago 14–11 in another low-scoring encounter that ran the full ten minutes. Lincoln’s grit and consistency secured their first national title since 2017, and followed impressive performances across the finals day. Last year’s runners-up the University of Waikato claimed bronze in the men’s competition, while Massey University finished fourth.

Individual excellence throughout the weekend was recognised through the Tournament Team selections. The Women’s Tournament Team featured Carly Ohia (Waikato), Laura Jackson (Canterbury), Alexa Duff (Otago), and Auckland’s Terai Sadler, who was named Women’s Most Valuable Player after helping lead her side to the national title.

The Men’s Tournament Team recognised Pat Freeman (Otago), Zion Anderson (Massey), Daniel Dobson (Waikato), and Lincoln’s Seb Wilson, who earned Men’s MVP honours following Lincoln’s championship-winning campaign.

Sportsmanship and positive team culture were also celebrated, with the AUT Women receiving the Spirit Team award.

The National Tertiary 3x3 Championships also carried international significance, serving as the qualification event for New Zealand representation within the FISU pathway. The two finalist teams in each competition — Auckland and Waikato in the women’s division, and Lincoln and Otago in the men’s division — have qualified to represent New Zealand at the Oceania Qualifying Tournament for the 2026 FISU University World Cup 3x3.

The qualifying tournament will determine Oceania representation for the FISU University World Cup 3x3, with the winners heading to compete in Macau, China from 23–25 October.

The event also had an impact on the wider National Tertiary Championship Series standings, with Auckland remaining ahead in the shield race on 24 points following three events. Otago sits just one point behind on 23, with Waikato close behind on 22, while current shield holders Canterbury remain firmly in contention on 20 points.

UTSNZ extends its thanks to Basketball New Zealand for its ongoing support of the championship, along with the hosts at the University of Auckland for providing an outstanding venue and event experience. Appreciation is also extended to the referees, scorebench volunteers, and volunteer photographers whose efforts contributed to the successful delivery of the event.

Final Placings

Women